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Only about
one-quarter of the original building that Seth M.
Tinsley erected for a store in 1840-41 remains standing.
The original structure was a large “merchant’s block”
erected in the Greek Revival style, which called for a
symmetrical arrangement of features, a low-pitched roof,
and pilaster strips. Though the building was erected
for commercial use, Tinsley began renting space to
lawyers and the federal government shortly after the
building’s completion. Abraham Lincoln practiced law in
this building in a 3rd floor office as the
junior partner to Stephan Logan beginning in 1843. He
later occupied this office with his junior partner,
William Herndon until about 1852 when they moved their
offices to the west side of the public square. The
Lincoln-Herndon partnership lasted until Lincoln’s death
in 1865, even though the two attorneys stopped
practicing law together after the senior partner’s
presidential nomination in 1860. Before he left
Springfield on February 11, 1861, Lincoln told Herndon
to keep their firm’s sign-board hanging out and promised
that if he came back alive, then they would go on
practicing law together. But that was not to be. From
1841- 1855, this second floor of this building was also
rented by the federal government and used as a federal
courtroom, court clerk’s office, and judge’s chambers
for the United States district and circuit courts, which
held semi-annual sessions in Springfield.
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